Chauncey Billups eyeing NBA front-office gig, possibly with Pistons

Chauncey Billups with the Nuggets in 2011 (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Chauncey Billups’ playing days may be nearing an end, but the University of Colorado product soon hopes to be wearing a new uniform in the NBA: a suit and tie.

According to The Detroit News, Billups, a 16-year veteran who signed as a free agent with the Pistons last July, said he believes he’s got what it takes to join the team’s front office after having joined its executives in meetings and learning how to scout talent.

“First I had to think about if I wanted to coach or if I wanted to do executive work,” Billups told The Detroit News. “I learned a lot. I kind of sat up under those guys and I gained a lot of experience.”

Given the recent, and future, changes to the Pistons’ front office, Billups could soon get his shot at the real thing.

The Pistons wrapped up their sixth straight losing season (29-53), having fired coach Maurice Cheeks only 50 games in. And earlier this week, the team announced that it would not renew the contract of president Joe Dumars, who spent 29 years with the franchise as a player and executive, leaving assistant general manager George David and director of basketball operations Ken Catanella to run the team until the ownership group finds a replacement.

In high school and college, Billups wore No. 4 in honor of Dumars, whom he idolized. In speaking to the Detroit Free Press, Billups said Dumars, a two-time champion as a guard with the Pistons, was “an icon” and “the center of all that was good” in Detroit, but that “sometimes it’s just time for a change.”

The Pistons are said to be considering, among others candidates, Grant Hill, who shared the Detroit backcourt with Dumars in the late ’90s, and Orlando Magic assistant GM Scott Perry, who previously worked under Dumars, as their next GM.

Billups grew up in Denver and is arguably the face of basketball in Colorado, having spent three stints with the Nuggets over his career. But it was his six seasons with the Pistons, from 2002-08, that landed him his sole championship (2004) and the NBA Finals’ Most Valuable Player award.

He signed a two-year, $5 million deal to rejoin the Pistons last year, but he played only 19 games before injuring his knee and undergoing surgery.

Chauncey needs to come home in some capacity with the Nuggets, and give their young players the guidance that seems missing now. He also does great work with youth in Denver, as there must be some connection between the rise of Dominique Collier to national stature out of East HS and Chauncey’s eastside programs. Tad Boyle relies on Chauncey and his brother, Rodney, for advice about recruiting, and Chauncey’s family would benefit as well from finally having their dad home.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.